Arsenal youth must step up after Granit Xhaka’s injury

It was brutal to see Granit Xhaka on the pitch in such agony, and no matter ones feelings on the player over the years, it is not difficult to sympathize with someone who is now dealing with a serious knee injury. That the injury could have been worse should not diminish this compassion, and I am personally sure that, when he is right and healthy once again, the reception he will receive upon taking the pitch for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium will be absolutely tremendous.

Yet with that said, and the general timetable for his return understood, this is a massive opportunity for ‘younger’ players on this team to gain really important experience in the absence of Xhaka.

The two names that come to mind immediately are definitely Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Now, one certainly fits into the ‘young’ bracket, while Maitland-Niles at 24 years of age certainly doesn’t, even if he still is considered as such in many peoples’ eyes. Regardless, both players are very capable, and while one was recently brought in, the other has recently wanted out. These two might be perfect alongside and learning from the brilliant and influential Thomas Partey.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are Arsenal two midfielders who can make a huge impact in place of Granit Xhaka

If each player can play their part alongside Partey when Mikel Arteta calls upon them, Xhaka will return in three months to find a stronger, more resilient, and well-rounded Arsenal squad than the one he last played with.

The first test will be against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, with the second international break immediately thereafter, yet once that time has passed, four additional tests in October will ask questions that Thomas Partey will not be able to answer all by himself.

While Lokonga, the still-21-year-old Belgian midfielder, is not going anywhere any time soon, the same might not be able to be said regarding Maitland-Niles, who is a player I think quite highly of.

The Hale End product was rumored to be close to an Everton exit and has voiced his frustration with a lack of playing time under Arteta; Arteta has told him, however, that he would play more this season, and that he was a very valuable piece of this team moving forward. As life should have it, now is Maitland-Nile’s time to prove his value – even if it is also understood that the Toffees remain in the hunt for a player of his quality and versatility further down the line. They will have money to spend in January now that James Rodriguez has left Merseyside for Qatar.

Maitland-Niles must be feeling the pressure to get his career going while he is still young(ish) and as spry and capable as he is. Lokonga has the time and continues to find himself in bigger and more impressive situations, all the while making the best out of them for himself and his teammates around him.

So, who will get the chances to shine under Arteta?

Continued…